Apparatus for extracting gas from bituminous materials



Aug. 10, 1926.' l 1,595,301

E. w. HARTMAN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GAS FROM BlTUMINGUS MATERIALS EMAHUELW. HARTMHH Iman-nora AT1-ORNE# CII Patented -Aug. 1o, 1926.

- UNITED STATES 1,595,301 PATENT OFFICE.

EMANUEL W. IiIAIEt'llVlAIJ',l 0F MIAMI, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO EARTMAN INTERESTS INC., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A COBPOATION OF NEVADA.

APAnATUs non. EXTRACTI'NG GAS FROM BITUMINoUs MATERIALS.

appnanon ined May ai, 1921. serial No. 474,033.

This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for extracting gas from bitumen containing material of every kind.

One object of this invention is the provision of a retort adapted to extract gasA from all kinds of Abitumen containing material, solid or liquid, without anyy alteration in its construction.

Another object is `to provide a circular retort the entire bottom plate of which is heated and means for constantly stirring the charge from which the gas is being extracted.

A further object is to provide a central oiftake tower mounted to revolve on its axes and to function as a drive shaft in operating the charge stirring mechanism.

Other objects will appear from a consideration of the following description in oonnecti-on wit-h the drawings which form a part thereof and in which Fig. 1 is a transversesection of one embodiment of the invention taken on the line Fig. 2 is a plan view on a reduced scale; Fig. 3 is a section view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on the line Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 10 is used to designate apparatus `embodying one form of this invention and here shown' as circular in outline. Mounted on the base 11 is a circular still or retort -12 made yup of circular upper and lower plates 13 and 14 joined at their edges by an annular band 15. Above the upper plate 14 is laid a layer of asbestos concrete 16 which prevents the radiation of the heat from the retort. The plates and band are preferably of sheet metal and are braced at the corners by flanged rings 17. In addition to the rings 17 the upper plate 14 is also supported by I-beams 18 embedded in the layer of concrete, and bearing at their ends on the base 11.

A drum 19 is carried on bearings 20 in a cup like plate 21. iixed to the lower plate 13, and extends through the still 12, a circular opening 22 being provided in the upper plate 14. Rigidly fixed to the drum 19 by means of 'inclined tangentially arranged angle beams 23 is a ring 24, also connected to the'drum by the horizontal radially arranged.` beams 25. These beams 25 stir the charge and as shown in Fig. 4, regardless of the direction of rotation of the drum, are so mounted that they bear the same relation to the charge. The drum 19 thus functions as a drive shaft in transmitting motion to the ring 24 and the stirring beams 25.

Mounted on the drum is a fianged gear ring 26 with which meshesv a gear 27 carried by'ashaft 28. The shaft 28 rotates in bearings 29 supported b v I-beams 18 and is actuated by the application of any suitable means to the pulley or sprocket 30. In the cover 31 of the drum which is tightly secured in place is provided a turning gasket of any desired form through which exten-ds the non-rotatable pipe or gas line 32. Fixed to the upper plate 14 around the drum 19 is a bushing 33 to prevent the escapo of gas from the retort.

In oase the apparatus is to be used to ex,-

, tract gas from solid bitumen containing material such as shale the charge is fed to the retort by means of a hopper 34 through a hole 35 in the upper plate. The hopper which is supported by an angle iron 36 .fixed to one of the I-bearns 18 and by concrete uprights 37 rising from the base 11 and layer 16, is provided near its outlet with a sliding trap 38 running in guides 39. The material is supplied to the hopper by a chute 40 from the Crusher (not shown) by which it has been reduced to the size found most satisfactory for the operation of this apparatus. p

The residue after the gas is extracted is discharged from the retort through thc chute 41. A trap door 42. which normally forms a portion of lower plate 13 and covers the chute 41 is shifted at the desired time andthe.v material discharged through the chute` 41. The door 42 rests on the angle irons 43 and is provided with a handle 44 by which it is moved out of and into position, a slot 45 being formed in the foundation wall 11 to permit this movement.

In the base 11 below the retort 12 is provided an annular fire box 46 having its fire door 47 at one side of the discharge chute 4l and its stack or chimney 48 at the other sido thereof. The bricked top 49 of the fire box is directly in contact with the lower plate 13 'of the retort, except where the door 42 is located, so that the retort is kept continuously at a high temperature. Eras is ordinarily used for heating but obviously other forms of fuel could be employed if desired.

When the apparatus is to be used to extract gas from Mexican petroleum or other bitumen containing liquid the charge is fed to the retort by a pipe line 50 having a plurality of supply valves 51, four being shown in Fig. 2, arranged on the circumference of a circle and about 90 apart. The charge thus strikes the hot plate 13 at separated points and a great part instantly turns into The wall of the drum 19 has a series of openings 52 into the retort 12, one vseries being directly below the upper plate 14:. The gas extracted by the heat thus escapes from `the retort into the drum which acts not only as a drive shaft but also as a gas olftake tower, the heavier particles carried by the gas which have fallen to the bottom, bef ing revaporized under the influence of the heat. Fronrthe drum 19 the gas passes through the line 32 to the condenser, scrubber,'gas holder and oil tank which may be of any desired form and which, being no part of this invention, are not shown in the drawings. Here the crude oil, which contains gasoline and oil, is first separated out from the gas and is then broken up into its component parts.

It will thus be noted that by the use of this apparatus any gas is extracted from material containing bitumen from which gas, both gasoline and oil, can be obtained. In other words gasoline and oil can be obytained fram shale, from Mexican petroleum, from all forms of asphalt and from many other materials which do not within themselves contain any gasoline whatsoever.

In the operation of this apparatus the retort 12 is first heated to `the desired temperature, from 1000o to 1800o F. and then the bitumen containing charge fro-m which the ngas is to be extracted is introduced through the hopper 34, if solid, and through the valves 51, if liquid. In either case the retort is sealed by closing the door 38 o'r the valves 51 before the extracting operation is started. A fresh charge of material is at once placed in the hopper and the part which rests on the door 38 melts so as to completely seal the opening and prevent the admission of any air. The drum 19 is now rotated and the charge is stirred by the beams 25 until all the gas has been extracted and has passed off through the outlets 52 to the gas line 32. If solid matter is being treated the door 42 is now operated and the exhausted material is discharged, the stirring apparatus being kept in motion until the retort is empty. If the charge is liquid it will be entirely converted intr gas and led olf by the line 32.

lvhile one embodiment only has been shown and described it is obvious that others could' be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims and applicant should not be limited thereby.

Having thus set forth my invention that which I claim as new and for which I Vdesire the protection of Letters Patent of the United States is the following:

1. In an apparatus for extracting gas, a circular retort, having a bottom plate, means for feeding the charge to be treated thereto, means for heating the entire bottom plate of the retort, a tower rotatably mounted at the center of said retort, means operated by said tower for stirring the charge constantly during the operation of the apparatus, said tower having openings into which the extracted gas escapes from said retort, and van outlet-to which the residue is guided by said stirring means.

2. An apparatus for extractinggas comprising a circular retort having a bottom plate on which the charge to be treated rests, an inlet for feeding said charge to said "retort, an outlet for the residue in said bottom plate, means for heating said retort, and means for agitating the charge in said retort and guiding the residue thereof to said outlet, said means being provided with openings through which the gas extracted from the charge escapes from said retort.

3. An apparatus for extracting gas comprising a circular retort having a bottom plate on which the charge to be treated rests, an inlet for feeding said charge to said retort, an outlet for the residue in said bottom plate, means for heating said retort, and means for agitating the charge in said retort and guiding the residue thereof to saida outlet, said means including beams which act upon the charge and a tower, by which said beams are actuated, said tower being provided with openings through which the gas extracted from the charge escapes.

4C. An apparatus for extracting gas oomprising a circular retort having a bottom plate on which the charge to be treated rests, an inlet for feeding said charge to said retort, an outlet for the residue in said bottom plate, means for heating said retort, and means for agitating the charge in said retort and guiding the residue thereof to said outlet, said means including beams which act upon the charge and a rotatable tower mounted at the center of said retort 

